The first ever Beccles Fun Run took place at the weekend, raising more than £500 for local community projects.

Beccles Fun Run will now become an annual event. Picture: Charlotte James Photography

The event, on Sunday, September 2, was organised by the Beccles and District Lions Club with an emphasis on taking part rather than winning.

With distances of three and five kilometres, plus a children’s one kilometre, the route took runners around Beccles Common and the historic Avenue, along with the sports field, to prove a scenic and attractive route.

As a family event, parents of children taking part ran alongside and encouraged their children in their endeavours, with many participants running for sponsorship to help causes and charities close to their heart.

The fun run, which was prompted by an idea from the former Lions president, Keith Moore, raised more than £500 for the club.

Beccles Fun Run will now become an annual event. Picture: Charlotte James Photography

The money will be put towards local community projects and will be repeated next year and plans are in place to make it an even bigger event with a larger field of runners and new features to the run.

This year’s Beccles Lions president, Chris Lambert, said: “Right from the start we received great support from both the Town and District Councils, who gave us permission to use the Town’s fantastic facilities.